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Oron

Merger 2012 Canton of Vaud · District: Lavaux-Oron · 6'451 inhabitants (31.12.2025)
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Oron

Two of the ten communes merged in 2012 already bore this name, Oron-la-Ville and Oron-le-Châtel. The agreement signed with Essertes kept it unchanged: «Le nom de la nouvelle commune est Oron».[1][3]

Founding of Oron

The commune was formed in two stages. Bussigny-sur-Oron, Châtillens, Chesalles-sur-Oron, Ecoteaux, Les Tavernes, Les Thioleyres, Oron-la-Ville, Oron-le-Châtel, Palézieux and Vuibroye form Oron on 1 January 2012, after a vote with 77.9 % in favour. Essertes joins on 1 January 2022. The arms of the enlarged commune are blazoned: «De gueules au lion accompagné de dix billettes mises en orle, le tout d'or». The eleven localities lie at altitudes between 625 metres (Châtillens) and 788 metres (Chesalles-sur-Oron). Palézieux is the largest, with 577 hectares. The castle of Oron, seat of the lordship from the late 12th century, became under Bern, from 1557 to 1798, the centre of a bailiwick that included Châtillens and Essertes among others. The Cistercian abbey of Haut-Crêt, at Les Tavernes, owned land at Châtillens and Essertes.[1][2][3][6][7][9]

History of Oron

Roman period. Under the name «Viromagus» or «Uromagus», Oron is a stage on the Roman road from Vevey to Avenches.[3]

1018. Rudolph III, king of Burgundy, gives land at Oron to the abbey of Saint-Maurice.[3]

1134. A bishop of Lausanne founds the Cistercian abbey of Haut-Crêt, on the territory of present-day Les Tavernes.[7][9]

1134. Palézieux appears in writing as «Pallexiu».[10]

1141. Châtillens, «Castellens», is named for the first time. Oron is mentioned as a parish.[3][9]

1180. A grange of the abbey of Haut-Crêt exists at Essertes. The village grows up around it.[3]

1344. On 9 May the lords of Billens found at Palézieux a small town enclosed by walls and ditches.[10]

1536. The abbey of Haut-Crêt is secularised.[9]

1803. Oron-la-Ville breaks away from Oron-le-Châtel and becomes the chief town of the Oron district until 2006.[3]

1814. Essertes, Châtillens and Les Tavernes separate and each form a commune.[3][9]

2010. Sunday 28 November: the ten communes accept the merger with 77.9 % yes.[1]

2012. On 1 January Oron becomes a single commune.[1][2][3]

2019. In January the council of Essertes agrees to start a merger process with Oron.[3]

2020. On 28 September the councils of both communes approve the merger agreement.[3]

2020. In the vote of 29 November Essertes says yes by 143 votes to 50 and Oron by 1'322 votes to 152.[3]

2022. On 1 January Essertes joins the commune of Oron.[2][3]

Population of Oron

Sources and references: [3][4][6]

Population of Oron
20196'049 (Oron and Essertes combined)
20246'345
20256'451

Historic sites in Oron

Administrative seat. The commune's administrative seat is in the locality of Palézieux.[3]

Castle of Oron. At Oron-le-Châtel. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century, it saw 43 Bernese bailiffs come and go. An association bought it in 1936 for 140'000 francs, with its furniture and library. The castle and the library are cultural properties of national importance.[5][8]

Abbey of Haut-Crêt. At Les Tavernes. The exact site of the abbey, on the bank of the Broye near the old mill, was found in 2006 during works. The site is a cultural property of national importance.[5][7]

Church of Châtillens. Romanesque in origin, it is dedicated to Saint Maurice, the Holy Innocents and Saint Pancras. Its ceiling dates from 1606, its inlaid pulpit from 1621 and its stained glass by Louis Rivier from 1913.[5][9]

Castle of Palézieux. Ruins remain of the castle of the lords of Palézieux, masters of the place in the 13th century. In the village the church was entirely rebuilt in 1828 and serves as the Reformed parish church.[5][10]

Menhir of Essertes. This Neolithic menhir, set upright again in 1996, is 5.6 metres high. It is the tallest recorded in Switzerland.[3]

Sources

  1. État de Vaud, communiqué « 17 communes plébiscitent leur fusion » (28 novembre 2010)
  2. État de Vaud, « Fusions de communes en chiffres (2025) »
  3. État de Vaud, Conseil d'État, exposé des motifs et projet de décret sur la fusion des communes d'Essertes et d'Oron, 21_LEG_4 (février 2021)
  4. Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
  5. Office fédéral de la protection de la population, Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale VD (état au 1.1.2026)
  6. Commune d'Oron, « Villages »
  7. Commune d'Oron, « Les Tavernes »
  8. Commune d'Oron, « Oron-le-Châtel »
  9. Commune d'Oron, « Châtillens »
  10. Commune d'Oron, « Palézieux »

Localities of the municipality with a page

Other villages near Oron

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